About the Morden & District Chamber of Commerce

The Governing values of the Morden and District Chamber of Commerce as we serve our members and ourselves shall be integrity, accountability, productivity, and confidentiality.

Vision:

The Morden and District Chamber of Commerce will be the independent driving force for the business community by providing reliable and innovative support.

Mission

Morden and District Chamber of Commerce shall provide value and business services based on the expressed needs of all business sectors.

What we do:

Increased Chamber Membership by 21 in 2007 to 235.

The members of the Chamber Executive have a well-rounded community prospective from their participation in local economic development and tourism committees: Morden Community Development Corp; Morden Corn and Apple Festival Committee and Board of Directors; Morden Tourism Marketing Team; Morden Business Improvement Area; Historical Society; etc.


Represented the Chamber members at the Grand Openings at Student/Youth Employment Centre, Widmer's Law Office, Morden Airport facility; Pembina Valley Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, 1-6 Hair and M.S.T.W. Planning Office, 3M Canada opening of their newly expanded Scotchkote line and Sod Turning for Hi-Tech Agro; the Manitoba Chambers of Commerce Annual Meeting; Tribute for Joyce Olfert of M & A Fabrics; Public Consultations for the Buhler Performing Arts Centre project; Medieval Day at Ecole Morden Middle School; Corn and Apple Festival Parade and Opening Ceremonies; Community Stakeholders meetings at Boundary Trails Health Centre; the presentation of the Town of Morden Financial and Business Plans; Remembrance Day Banquet and laid a wreath at the ceremony; Morden Collegiate Graduation Ceremonies, attended the Non Profit Roundtable and made a presentation on what the Chamber does to promote Morden events and activities; Participated in the Western School Division EAD Forum.

$101,085.00 in Morden Moolah has been spent in Morden since the inception of the program in November 2002 (that's $21,710.00 more than at this time last year).

Supported by letters lobbying conducted by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce against Bill C-257/C-415, An Act to Amend the Canada Labour Code (replacement workers); made submission to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Department of State regarding the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative Notice of Proposed Rule Making for Documents Required for Travelers Departing from or Arriving in the United States at Sea and Land Ports-of-Entry from within the Western Hemisphere; and encouraged Members to make submissions to the Provincial consultation on enhancing and expanding Manitoba's Apprenticeship and Certification system.

Co-hosted with the Winkler and District Chamber of Commerce the All Candidates' Forum prior to the Provincial Election in May.

Sponsored and administered the Pembina Valley Career Opportunities Day with grant funding from Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, Heartland Community Futures Development Corporation, Manitoba Advanced Education & Training and Partners with Youth.

Held our Annual General Meeting, provided a forum for the Mayor's'State of the Community Address' in February. Also hosted a gala 125th Anniversary event and presented the Town of Morden with a Chain of Office to mark the anniversary.

Continue to house the southern Manitoba satellite Canada/Manitoba Business Service Centre library.

Sponsored the best Farmer's Market Days in southern Manitoba' for the 11th year running' open June to October.

Hosted a spectacularly successful 41st Annual Corn and Apple Festival.

Sponsored and organized the Community Recruitment Display at the Corn and Apple Festival.

Participated in Small Business Week by co-hosting a Breakfast Meeting with Speaker for Women Business Owners.

Hosted and co-hosted seminars and speakers in response to local needs: Chamber Benefits: Group Insurance, Visa/Mastercard Merchant Service Discouts and MTS Long Distance and Cellular Plan Discounts in January; Four Generations in the Workforce in March; 7 Hidden Reasons Employees Leave in April; X Teams in June; Doing Business in Morden in the 21st Century with Larry Dyck of Decor Cabinets in June; promoted weekly Video Conferencing Seminars from Heartland Community Futures Development Corp.; Brian Pallister, M.P. Parliamentary Update in January and 50 Town Tour in September; Business Start Seminar in September; Bernie Clement from Pembina Valley Chrysler in October; and Globally Minded Youth and You with Andrew MacMillan and Lutfi Jatmika in November;

Sponsored Youth Awards including Loreena McKennitt Award won by Jessica Persson and Morden Collegiate Young Citizen Award won by Bryton Moen.

Published 41 issues of our newsletter'Just the Fax'. These newsletters, a communication tool of the Chamber of Commerce are faxed and emailed to members weekly to keep them up to date on Chamber benefits, programming and community events.

Sent Broadcast Faxes to local businesses and organizations to warn of Cheque Fraud and Counterfeit problems for Morden Police and information about Mosquito Fogging for the Town of Morden.

Held our annual Spring Golf Tournament and General Meeting at Minnewasta Golf & Country Club. Our speaker Larry Dyck from Decor Cabinets spoke about Doing Business in Morden in the 21st Century.

Partnered with Morden Chiropractic Centre to design, print and distribute Window Decals promoting Morden's 125th Anniversary to local businesses.

The Chamber Tourist Information Centre on Thornhill Street continues to serve Morden visitors and residents alike. In 2007 2,277 people were provided with directions, brochures, information, internet/email access, history and much more thanks to Ashley Klassen and Christina Dawshka.

Helped M.B.I.A. volunteers to organize Farmers' Markets for Extreme Motocross Days and The Event retail promotions on Stephen Street.

Participated in the Canada World Youth Exchange program by providing volunteer work experience for 2 participants Andrew MacMillan from Barrie, Ontario and Lutfi Jatmika from Jakarta, Indonesia.

Completed a full Strategic Planning Workshop resulting in a new Mission, Vision and Strategic Plan for the Chamber of Commerce.

With Town Councillors Alex Fedorchuk and Wayne Hosea, delivered plants and welcomed 7 new storefront businesses and 5 new owners to existing businesses in Morden.

Saw many changes in the Morden Business Sector:

New Businesses (12)

Expanded Businesses (12)

New Owners/Managers for Existing Businesses (12)

Who We Are:

* EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

The Morden and District Executive Council is composed of:

* EXECUTIVE COMMITTEES

The essential working committees of the Morden and District Chamber change as need arise and currently consists of:

* OTHER COMMITTEES

The Executive Council may strike committees and appoint an officer for such other functions as are necessary throughout the year. Such committees shall be appointed for a specific function (mandate) and a specified time frame.